Menu never left the kitchen: Abbott

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says it is time to move on from the scandal over a lewd menu, and has declined to criticise the prime minister over it.

Mr Abbott, LNP candidate Mal Brough and the party organisation itself have condemned a joke menu - believed to have been distributed at a party fundraising dinner in Brisbane - which made lewd remarks about Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

The restaurant owner, a Liberal party supporter, on Wednesday night said the menu had never been handed out at the dinner, but was a joke between him and his son which unfortunately got into the public domain.

Ms Gillard on Wednesday attacked the opposition's denigration of her and women in general as being a "pattern of behaviour".

Mr Abbott told reporters on Thursday it was time to move on.

"This was a bad taste menu that never made it out of the kitchen," Mr Abbott said.

"It wasn't seen by anyone at the event, it was never distributed to people at the event."